Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program

The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP) provides arts-integrated instruction to elementary students, effectively increasing student performance in language arts, social studies, math and science. The program is currently in 380 elementary schools in Utah, 31 school districts (including over 30 charter schools) and is serving approximately 202,800 students. The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program places an arts specialist (trained in visual art, dance, music or theater) in elementary schools to work collaboratively with classroom teachers to deliver quality, sequential, and developmental arts instruction in alignment with the state Fine Arts Core Standards. BTSALP operates under the direction of the Utah State Board of Education through legislative funding.

Utah State University provides professional development opportunities supporting BTSALP schools’ implementation of the collaborative arts integration teaching model. USU’s Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program provides year-round professional learning opportunities in arts integration for K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, arts specialists, and USU students. Professional development is also provided by the BTSALP statewide University network – University of Utah, South Utah University, Brigham Young University, Dixie State Univesity, and Westminister University. Learn more about BTSALP.

Mission

The mission of USU's Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program is to increase the quality and quantity of arts learning experiences for elementary students and teachers in the USU service area by focusing on four key areas:

Professional Development: Provide professional learning opportunities to teachers, administrators, arts specialists, and pre-service teachers in the USU service region which model high quality arts integration.

Community Projects: Facilitate opportunities for BTSALP arts specialists and pre-service teachers to offer community-based projects and events to elementary students and families on-site at any of the local schools or districts and/or on the USU campus.